Minimalist Photo Tips

Tips

Dec 19

**Sometimes, less is more! In a world filled with visual noise, minimalist photography offers a refreshing escape.**

By focusing on simplicity and intentionality, minimalist compositions strip away distractions to reveal the beauty in the essentials.
Whether you're drawn to clean lines, negative space, or strikingly simple subjects, mastering minimalism can transform how you see and capture the world. In this article, we’ll share tips and techniques to help you create powerful, minimalist photos that speak volumes through simplicity. Let’s dive into the art of less!
*Image by* *Shawn Moreton*
Edited with Quest 43 Llŷr

Background

In order to reduce noise and clutter in your minimalist photo composition, look for empty and distraction-free backgrounds to draw attention to your subject.

*Image by* *Liam Rimmington*
Edited with Quest 39 Driftwood

Negative Space - Create a sense of simplicity and calm in your image by utilizing negative space. Clear skies, walls, or a blank horizon offer good opportunities for negative space.
Symmetry - Embrace balance with symmetrical compositions or centered framing of your subjects.

*Image by* *Sam Morris*
Edited with Quest 42 Falena

*Image by* *Shawn Moreton*
Edited with Quest 23 Odeon

Experiment with Scale - Use the empty space of your background to emphasize the large size or small size of your subject in the frame.

*Image by* *Shawn Moreton*
Edited with Quest 31 Mythos

Lines & Shapes - Play with leading lines, geometric patterns, and simple shapes to guide the eye to your subject.

Subject

Given how little else there is to work with in a minimalistic photo composition, your subject is crucial. Select a subject that stands out and avoid overcrowding the frame.

*Image by* *Kasia Choma*
Edited with Quest 43 Llŷr

Light & Shadows - Add interest and contrast in your image by focusing on existing shadows or light patterns, or create your own in the studio with harsh flash.
Isolation - Experiment with photographing a lone subject in a vast space, like a tree in a field or a person in an open landscape.

*Image by* *Shawn Moreton*
Edited with Quest 13 Intrepid

*Image by* *Justin Cook*
Edited with Quest 40 Del Mar

Placement - Be intentional with the placement of your subject in the frame— cropping part of your subject to focus on certain shapes, colors, or textures can lead to interesting compositions.
Framing - Frame your subject by incorporating natural or architectural elements while maintaining simplicity.
Focus - Play with depth of field and focus to create unexpected shapes, framing, or a diptych of in and out of focus elements.

Images by Liam Rimmington
Edited with Quest 36 Botanica

Color

Color (or lack thereof) is a huge component of minimalistic photo compositions! Keeping in simple doesn’t mean making it boring— there are tons of ways to play with color in minimalism.

*Image by* *Liam Rimmington*
Edited with Quest 15 Opalescent

Monochromatic Color Palette - Use all the same or similar colors to maintain a cohesive and minimal aesthetic. Your subject might blend in, but the color-drenched image will give your viewer something to explore visually.

*Image by* *Liam Rimmington*
Edited with Quest 42 Falena

Stand Out - Use color to make your subject stand out and pop against the background, especially if there are unavoidable distracting elements in the background of your image.

*Image by* *Shawn Moreton*
Edited with Quest 40 Del Mar

*Image by* *Shawn Moreton*
Edited with Quest 36 Botanica

*Image by* *Shawn Moreton*
Edited with Quest 37 Soraya

Black and White - Use a black and white edit to remove color as a distraction from your composition, letting the viewer really look at the subject, textures, and composition of your minimalistic photo.